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When U.S. Under 20 national team coach Thomas Rongen's heard about a promising youth prospect with an American background but ties to the Mexican youth national team earlier this year, he was pleasantly surprised with what he found.
What Rongen discovered was a 6-foot-2 forward with good feet and a natural feel for the game. More importantly, he found a player with more than just ties to United States. He found an extremely talented American player just waiting for the opportunity to represent his country.
Omar Salgado always wanted to play for the United States. Even after leaving El Paso Texas to join the Chivas Guadalajara youth system. Even after playing for the Mexican Under-20 national team. When Salgado met Rongen he jumped at the chance to return to the country where he was born and raised.
“When I was at Chivas and the U.S. national team called me I realized I wanted to play for the United States,” Salgado said. “It was where I was born and it just felt right for me to play for the United States.”
Ten months since that fateful meeting, Salgado has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in the U.S. youth national team set-up, and he signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer. The 17-year-old striker is expected to be one of the first players selected in next week’s MLS Draft.
“He wanted to play for us and he wanted to play in MLS so it was an easy move,” Rongen said. “It ended up being a great story for all parties involved on this side of the border.
“He’s a special talent, not like many young American players you will find,” Rongen said. “He can be successful. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
Salgado was no stranger to the U.S. national team when Rongen met him, having been a member of the under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida. He left the Bradenton academy after a short time and eventually joined the Chivas Guadalajara youth program after being told it was one of the best in the world.
Only 15 at the time, Salgado moved to Mexico and faced the difficult adjustment of not only being away from home, but being in a new country. Even though his family’s heritage is Mexican, there was a considerable adjustment to make going from El Paso to Guadalajara.
"It was very difficult," Salgado said. "It was a different country and different atmosphere. Guadalajara isn't a very pleasant place."
Salgado had soccer to lean on, and while it would have been easy to embrace the Mexican culture completely, there were some things he held on to. Among them, his allegiance to the U.S. national team.
There Salgado was, in Guadalajara, in February of 2009, watching the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier with his Chivas teammates. While everyone else in the room was rooting hard for Mexico, Salgado was the lone voice of dissent, cheering on the United States during a 2-0 victory.
Even though his allegiance was with the United States, Salgado eventually did what almost all Chivas Guadalajara players do. He played for Mexico’s youth national team set-up. With club coaches telling him to play for Mexico, and with the U.S. national team not looking like a legitimate option, Salgado wore the famous green jersey of ‘El Tri.’
Playing for a Mexican youth national team is impressive enough, but the fact that Salgado was playing for the Mexican Under-20 national team set-up as a 16-year-old revealed just how highly-regarded Salgado was.
Mexico’s loss has been American’s soccer’s gain. Once he made his national team decision known, Salgado knew his days with Chivas Guadalajara were numbered (the club is famous for fielding only Mexican players). Salgado left Mexico and signed a Generation adidas contract last fall.
The contract gave Salgado some security, but it has also led to an interesting and whirlwind few months that has seen him train with more than a half dozen clubs in three countries. He spent time with English club Everton, as well as MLS clubs D.C. United, Chivas USA, Los Angeles Galaxy, Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“It’s been difficult with all the traveling, and adjusting to every team I go to,” Salgado said. “It’s not easy, but it’s fun. I’m just waiting for the draft, so I’ll have my team.”
Salgado will know his team in a week. After being re-discovered by his own country, and leaving behind Chivas Guadalajara and the Mexican national team to return to the United States, he won’t mind waiting just a little bit longer.
Ives Galarcep is a senior writer for FoxSoccer.com covering the U.S. national team and Major League Soccer.
